Posted on 05/23/2010 10:34:26 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Whales and dolphins deserve 'human rights' because of their intelligence
Whales and dolphins should get "human rights" to life and liberty because of mounting evidence of their intelligence, a group of conservationists and experts in philosophy, law and ethics have argued.
Published: 6:01PM BST 23 May 2010
Japan, Norway and Iceland, the main whaling nations, oppose arguments that would outlaw hunting or even keeping the mammals in marine parks. They have long said there is no real evidence that they are smarter, for instance, than cows or pigs.
But participants at a University of Helsinki conference said a growing number of studies show the giant marine mammals have human-like self-awareness, an ability to communicate and organise complex societies, making them similar to some great apes.
"We affirm that all cetaceans [marine mammals], as persons, have the right to life, liberty and wellbeing," they said in a declaration after a two-day meeting led by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS).
Thomas White, director of the Center for Ethics and Business at Loyola Marymount University in California, said dolphins could recognise themselves in a mirror, an ability rare in mammals that humans only acquire at about 18 months of age.
"Whaling is ethically unacceptable," he said. "They have a sense of self that we used to think that only human beings have."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
From the same crowd that gave you “Save a whale, abort a baby!”
“We affirm that all cetaceans [marine mammals], as persons, have the right to life, liberty and wellbeing”
While a child does not.
I support it just take it away from insane and intolerant Islamics and other backward violent people.
okay....we’ll make a trade....liberals and socialist/marxists for them
Since whales and dolphins are a lot smarter than welfare recipients, maybe we should take the rights of people on the dole away.
I think they forgot the ‘human’ in human rights. And they’re cannibals too.
What a bunch of loonies.
Not dogs, apes or pigs? That’s racist!!
its nothing more than right to be left alone by humans. Heck, even humans don’t have the same right that these whales will get
I'd vote for Flipper to be our first Aquatic American with a grey skin and big smile. He doesn't need a teleprompter and would evoid Air Farce Uno!
Penn & Teller Bulls**t: Dolphins episode (Warning: Vulgarity, poss. nudity)
Part 1 of 3
http://www.trilulilu.ro/00070707000/9fdb53112ec588
Part 2 of 3
http://www.trilulilu.ro/00070707000/2dadedfc78de6f
Part 3 of 3
http://www.trilulilu.ro/00070707000/0493820fd25156
>>Whales and dolphins deserve ‘human rights’ because of their intelligence <<
Then democrats and liberals should have their ‘human rights’ revoked for the same reason...
Rights AND responsibilities; whales need to contribute to society... Work, build, invent, contribute money, obey laws, volunteer, etc.
“Do Trees Have Standing?”
Not so nutty an idea. Democrats see possible voters among whales and other marine mammals. Next step — a seat on the UN security council.
Hell, why not? What difference does it really make?
“...whales need to contribute to society...”
.
Why should they have to when illegals and many immigrants don’t have to?
They can then start paying taxes.........
If dolphins are so smart, why don’t they jump over the cork line of the big tuna seine nets and swim away? I remember Jacques Cousteau being asked that question and his reply was they are indeed intelligent, but they don’t possess HUMAN intelligence.
War, maybe not but I saw a vid the other day of dolphins murdering a porpoise. They attacked it and literally drowned it by holding it under water.
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